SPS 2026 Term 3
The news we are all celebrating is that STEM Professionals in Schools has once again received Federal Government funding, allowing us to move full steam ahead towards our 20th year of operation in 2027.
As we reflect on the impact of the program over the past two decades, it is clear that some of our most meaningful outcomes have been achieved in communities where support is needed most. In the spirit of the Better and Fairer Schools Agreement, we are more motivated than ever to focus our efforts on supporting rural and regional schools, schools with large Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and migrant populations, and schools in low socio-economic communities.
If you are a STEM professional who is passionate about inspiring the next generation and would like to contribute to this important work, we encourage you to submit an expression of interest. Partnerships can take place in person or virtually.
With plenty on offer this term, from tips for encouraging student inquiry to National Science Week activities, we hope you'll find useful information to continue helping young Australians discover the opportunities STEM can offer.
Through her SPS partnership, Dr Kylie Hewson helped students discover the power of asking good questions. We caught up with Dr Hewson to learn more.
What motivated you to join STEM Professionals in Schools?
Whether they become scientists or not, science skills are life skills. Knowing how to ask a good question helps people think critically about the information and opinions presented to them, evaluate evidence, and form their own informed views.
What inspired you to write about the skill of asking a good question?
I saw firsthand how learning to ask better questions transformed the way students approached problems and challenged their own assumptions. Instead of jumping to conclusions, they became more curious, thoughtful, and confident in exploring ideas and expressing their own opinions.
What was the most rewarding part of the experience?
Watching the students work together to identify a real problem, investigate it, and then confidently present their discoveries to their peers, parents, and teachers. A highlight was watching the adults become the learners; asking the students questions and even seeing the school groundskeepers use the students' findings to inform how they might manage the identified pest.
Read Kylie's article, The skill of asking a good question, to discover how a simple observation on a leaf led students on a journey of inquiry and critical thinking.
We're currently looking for teachers in Melbourne's western suburbs and across Queensland, particularly Brisbane's western suburbs and North Queensland, to get involved. Email stemprofessionalsinschools@csiro.au if you or someone you know could benefit from a STEM partnership.